Humidifier for carbureters



June 17, 1947. GAZDA 2,422,402

HUMIDIFIER FOR CARBURETERS Filed NOV. 16, 1943 'l ww" I'l li' 'niukij" 19:22am 6a; 2 a,

Patented June 17, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HUMIDIFIER FOR CARBURETERS I R 1 Antoine Gazda, Providence, R. I. Application November 16, 1943, Serial No. 510,548

, 2 Claims.

1 The present invention relates to the cleaning and humidifying of the suction air of an internal combustion engine, and also to the intimate admixin and atomizationof the. air and entrained or added moisture.

Desiderata in apparatus for eiiecting the aforesaid operations are (a) that the air be as thoroughly cleaned as possible prior to humidification thereof and (b) that the admixture of air and moisture resulting from the humidification be as intimate and uniformas possible and in a high degree of atomization.

In the specification of my prior U. S. patent. No. 1,945,431, I have described a humidifier and air-filter for a carbureter of an internal combustion engine. The said humidifier consisted essentially of a .multi-walled hollow member of cylindrical shape, constructed as a water or liquid reciptacle, whose inner and outer walls were made of porous material. This water or liquid receptacle, filled with water or liquid, ,was'connected with the suction inlet of the internal combustion engine. The air suckedinduring the suction stroke of the engine passed through the cylindrical passageway defined'by inner wall of this receptacle, thus drawing out the water through the porous inner wall and humidifying the air sucked in. The outer wall, also of porous material, and therefore humid, cleaned the air of-dust during its passage therealon and before entering the passageway defined by the inner wall of the receptacle.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning and humidifying construction which, n the one hand, shall more efiectively clean and humidity than does the device of by way of example, on the accompanying sheet of drawing, the single figure or which represents a sectional vice.

As shown on the said figure of drawing, the humidifier according to this invention may comprise a centrally-open hollow member l0 which with a central cylindrical element hereinafter described, defines a water or liquid receptacle or reservoir. This hollow member may conveniently be made of metal or of suitable plastic material such as Bakelite or the like. The reservoir may be filled by way of the filler tube II provided with cover It. A conventional water level indicator may conveniently be provided, as at l3. 1

The top wall of reservoir l0 may be offset to provide a peripheral shoulder on which may be mounted a pair of spaced foraminous cylindrical walls It defining a cylindrical space therebetween. This space may be filled with a filterforming material It such as copper filings, glass the aforedescribed specification and which, on

the other hand, realizes the above-enumerated desiderata.

To this end, briefly stated, the present invention provides a relationship of parts whereby the suction air is first passed through a filter which eliminates dust and other undesired foreign matter therefrom, and is then passed through a porous cylindrical passageway provided in a water reservoir to effect the desired atomization. An important feature of the invention is the embodiment of the said passageway in the form of a porous tube having an inlet which is smaller than the outlet thereof. Enhanced humidification, admixture of air and moisture, and atomization of the mixture are realized by developin the said tube as a Venturi nozzle.

A presently-preferred mode of carrying out the present invention is shown diagrammatically,

wool or the like. Peripheral bead l6 assists in retaining the resultant'air-filtering unit in place.

Extending centrally through member ID is the cylindrical nozzle member H, the lower circumferential edge of which rests in a. corresponding groove provided in the bottom wall of the reservoir. Member I'l or a portion thereof juxtaposed to the liquid in reservoir l0, may be made of a porous or water-permeable material, such as a ceramic or a textile or the like, which permits seepage and evaporation of the liquid con-- tents of the reservoir. I

The upper circumferential edge of nozzle member I1 is associated with flange member l8 mounted-on and suitably secured to the top wall of the reservoir. Also mounted on and suitably fastened to the said top wall is the spider element IS, the upper end of which is suitably perforated to receive bolt 20. Cover'member 2i closes the upper end of the entire device, including the filter unit, as shown, and is securely held in place with the aid of wing nut 22 in cooperation with bolt 20 which projects outwardly through the said cover member. Mean in the form of a flange member 28, sult-.

ably secured to the bottom wall of the reservoir, and a clamp and clamp-bolt assembly 24, are provided for associating the humidifier assembly with a conduit leading to the intake side of the carburetor. In this regard, the reservoir may be arranged anteriorly or posteriorly of the carbureter or in front of the suction opening or the engine.

viewthrough the center of the de- Air or the mixture of air and gas sucked in during the suction stroke of the internal combustion engine with which the device is associated, passes through filter element I4, l5 and is cleaned of its foreign ingredients in much more effective manner than is possible by mere contact with a damp surface. The air then passes downwardly through the central passage defined by nozzle member I! and entrains from the surface of the latter the requisite quantity of moisture.

In the case of the device according to my aforesaid prior patent, the quantity of humidity withdrawn from the porous wall depends on the area of the surface of the said porous wall.

By constructing the member I! with an inlet which is smaller than its outlet, i e. by makin it nozzle-shaped or by imparting a Venturi configuration thereto as shown, a jet eflect is produced. The result is that, during the suction stroke of the engine, not only is a greater quantity of moisture entrained by the air per unit of area of porous nozzle material than has heretofore been possible, but also, through the increased velocity dueto the jet effect, a better mixing of the sucked-in air and entrained water particles and also a better atomization of the mixture, are realized.

It is evident from the foregoing that the relationship of parts according to the present invention realizes the objects of the invention as above set forth.

It is to be understood that the specific embodiment above described in detail is purely exemplary in character and that the invention isv not to be limited except as required by the terms of the claims hereunto appended.

I Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

I l. A humidifier for the carbureter of an internal combustion engine comprising a multiwalled water reservoir including a substantially central inner wall defining a passageway therethrough, an outer cylindrical wall spaced from and encompassing said central inner wall, and annular top and bottom walls extending between said inner and outer walls, said inner wall being constituted by a nozzle member of Venturi configuration and being porous whereby the contents hanced admixture of air and entrained moisture 1 are realized.

2. A humidifierfas set forth in claim 1 the maximum cross-sectional area of said passageway being at its outlet end.

ANTOINE GAZDA.

' REFERENCES crrEn The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name 7 Date 1,309,254 MacFadden .f July 8, 1919 1,755,733 Hagen et 8.1. Apr. 22, 1930 2,108,556 Hardt Feb. 15, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date Great Britain June 25, 1925 

